Hey! - the Rancho is a true classic - IMO *that* car defined the MPV class! - the Espace (and/or Chrysler) came up with the one-box version of it, but the family-go-leasure multi purpose car-concept belongs to the Rancho.

Its a great car, - unfortunately made from rather vulnerable materials - which is such a shame, but that makes it even more important that you get your example roadgoing.

Just imagine belonging to an exclusive club of only 11 owners - I guess only the "Bugatti Veyron Owners Club" is smaller !

Hey! - the Rancho is a true classic - IMO *that* car defined the MPV class! - the Espace (and/or Chrysler) came up with the one-box version of it, but the family-go-leasure multi purpose car-concept belongs to the Rancho.

Really? What about the VW camper or 60s Fiat Multipla?

Anyway, they are very cool cars and any decent ones should be preserved. Well done that man.

Hey! - the Rancho is a true classic - IMO *that* car defined the MPV class! - the Espace (and/or Chrysler) came up with the one-box version of it, but the family-go-leasure multi purpose car-concept belongs to the Rancho.

Its a great car, - unfortunately made from rather vulnerable materials - which is such a shame, but that makes it even more important that you get your example roadgoing.

Just imagine belonging to an exclusive club of only 11 owners - I guess only the "Bugatti Veyron Owners Club" is smaller !

ps: nice new wheels

How's that for encouragement ? :-)

/Lennart

Thank you Lennart any encouragement is helpful, but the wheels did come with it like that when I bought it.

well, this can always be discussed - those were certainly also trendsetters.

However, the current "MPV" is more focused on the active family, using the car for all sorts of purposes, from fishing and picknicing to camping, transport or business meetings. As such, I find the Rancho to be the "mother".

I just noticed that they are not the same that were on it, when you offloaded it from the trailer - so since you said "spot the difference", I though I'd got it. :-)But I see now that they are in fact in the boot of the car.

Anyway, - the winter will be a good time to start on restoration, so you can plan for a summer holiday in your nice Rancho. Go go go ! :-)

HiNice to have another Rancho owner on this forum, I have felt a bit lonely Your car looks nice and complete but on the picture of the car on the trailer I have noticed come rust in front on the rear wheel. This might be time consuming to fix as there are four layer of metal behind each other and normally you will have to replace them all. Attached is a picture of mine with this area on the right hand side cut open before welding. From the outside there was only a small hole .In Denmark I have only knowledge of one Rancho plus my own as cars on the road. I know that some cars have been stored for later reiteration. I have myself take over some projects and two Ranchos I have cut up for spare parts, they were so rusty that it was unbelievable. When I walked around in the car I simply step through the floor! Yes in a Rancho you can take a walk in the back of the car!

Thanks for putting that picture up have you got any more because that is exactly the area that mine has gone, I was going to take the axle out to gain access but it looks like I might be able to do it the way you have.

Sort of the same rason the Rancho and Bagheeras are uniqe in that they become faster with age, as they carry less and less weight :-)

This is actually a quote from MEC member Peter Locke, who emailed me the first Bagheera owner picture for the matrasport website, back in 1995, at the same time claiming that this was the first time a Bagheera obtained lightspeed (email).

Extrapolating, his Bagheera must do incredible speeds today... ahem. :-)

HiIt will under any circumstances be a good idea to remove the rear suspension in order to have a closer look. The fixation points at the front will most likely look as the one on the attached picture. The picture is taken when the repair work has just been started.

With the right tools is not difficult. But at least in Denmark you will have to do a good job, as the inspection/MOT does not accept that you do any repair on the suspension part i.e. when you have finished the job the rear axel must look as new and unprepared.I have seen 5 Rancho rear suspension and the one on the picture was one of the best!!